Patrice Bergeron announces retirement after 19 NHL seasons, all with Bruins

After 19 NHL seasons, Patrice Bergeron is calling it a career.

The longtime Bruins center announced his retirement on Tuesday, just one day after celebrating his 38th birthday.

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“It is with a full heart and a lot of gratitude that today I am announcing my retirement as a professional hockey player,” Bergeron said, via the team.

“As hard as it is to write, I also write it knowing how blessed and lucky I feel to have had the career that I have had, and that I have the opportunity to leave the game I love on my terms,” he continued. “It wasn’t a decision that I came to lightly. But after listening to my body, and talking with my family, I know in my heart that this is the right time to step away from playing the game I love.”

Bergeron was drafted by the Bruins in 2003 and went on to have a remarkable career in Boston that included winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. He scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 against the Canucks to give Boston its first Stanley Cup in nearly 40 years.

The center played 1,294 games in a Black and Gold sweater, which arguably could have been higher without the 2004-05 and 2012-13 and a concussion that limited Bergeron to just 10 games in 2007-08.

Only Johnny Bucyk (1,436) and Ray Bourque (1,518) have played more games for the Bruins than Bergeron.

Bergeron leaves behind quite a legacy. Aside from being a Stanley Cup champion and a member of the 1,000-game club, he also won six Selke Trophy’s — with his most recent coming last month.

It’s all but certain Bergeron will be enshrined into the Hockey Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible in 2026.

After all is said and done, Bergeron finished his career with 427 goals, 613 assists and 1,040 points.

“As I step away today, I have no regrets. I have only gratitude that I lived my dream, and excitement for what is next for my family and I,” Bergeron said in his statement. “I left everything out there and I’m humbled and honored it was representing this incredible city and for the Boston Bruins fans.”

Bergeron’s No. 37 will likely be raised to the TD Garden rafters where he’ll join a long list of Bruins legends.